Real refs return to cheers

From Michael Pearson, CNN

Updated 1231 GMT (2031 HKT) September 28, 2012

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Brandon Marshall of the Chicago Bears makes a reception for a first down against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday, October 1, in Arlington, Texas. The Bears beat the Cowboys 34-18. Look back at the best of NFL Week Three.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – The Cowboys line up against the Bears on Monday night.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Devin Hester of the Chicago Bears catches a 34-yard touchdown pass on Monday.

NFL Week 4: The best photos – The Bears' Matt Forte runs the ball in the second quarter of Monday's game against the Cowboys' No. 40, Danny McCray.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – The Cowboys' Miles Austin catches a pass in the first half Monday against Chris Conte.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – The Cowboys' DeMarco Murray reaches for extra yardage against the Bears on Monday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – The Bears' Major Wright, No. 21, reacts after he intercepted a pass in the third quarter on Monday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Bears' quarterback Jay Cutler throws a pass on Monday in the first half.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – No. 21 Major Wright celebrates with No. 98 Corey Wootton of the Bears after Wright intercepted the ball during Monday's game.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Henry Melton of the Bears sacks quarterback Tony Romo of the Cowboys in the first quarter on Monday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Tony Romo of the Cowboys, center, talks to his teammates during Monday's game.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – No. 14 Eric Weems of the Bears celebrates on Monday. The Bears beat the Cowboys 34-18.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Team owner Jerry Jones of the Cowboys looks on as his team plays the Bears on Monday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – New York Giants wide receiver Ramses Barden, left, and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha go up for the ball during the fourth quarter on Sunday, September 30, in Philadelphia. Barden was called for pass interference on the play during the Eagles' 19-17 win.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie of the Eagles intercepts a pass in the end zone thrown by Giants quarterback Eli Manning during Sunday's game.

NFL Week 4: The best photos – A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan yells after a touchdown Sunday against the Washington Redskins at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Doug Martin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is tackled Sunday by London Fletcher of the Washington Redskins.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Quincy Black of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dives for a deflected pass during Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb throws a pass over Randy Starks of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Reggie Bush of the Miami Dolphins is tackled in the backfield Sunday by No. 94 Sam Acho of the Arizona Cardinals.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Mike Pouncey of the Miami Dolphins prepares to snap the football to quarterback Ryan Tannehill during Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush watches from the sidelines on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Takeo Spikes of the San Diego Chargers forces a fumble by Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Eddie Royal of the San Diego Chargers rushes in for a touchdown Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – NFL head linesman John McGrath works during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Shaun Phillips of the San Diego Chargers hits quarterback Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs, causing a fumble during the second quarter on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Jamaal Charles of the Kansas City Chiefs gets tackled by Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – The New York Jets Flight Crew performs during the game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers calls out the play in the first quarter Sunday against the New York Jets.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Quarterback Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets is sacked in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – No. 7 Colin Kaepernick of the San Fransisco 49ers celebrates a touchdown with teammates Alex Boone, left, and Joe Staley during Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Jim Harbaugh, San Fransisco 49ers head coach, looks at notes during Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Quaterback Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, right, gets back to his feet after a fumble against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Jackie Battle of the San Diego Chargers reaches over the goal line for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Anthony Dixon of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with fans after a win over the New York Jets on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Santonio Holmes of the New York Jets writhes on the turf after fumbling a ball picked up by Carlos Rogers of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Derek Cox of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to break up a pass intended for Armon Binns of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – BenJarvus Green-Ellis of the Cincinnati Bengals is tackled by Jeremy Mincey of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Andrew Hawkins of the Cincinnati Bengals makes a catch Sunday under pressure from Dwight Lowery of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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NFL Week 4: The best photos – Chris Pressley of the Cincinnati Bengals is congratulated by his teammates after a touchdown Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots reacts from the sidelines after a turnover during Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots catches a 41-yard pass during Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Quarterback Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos looks to pass against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

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NFL Week 4: The best photos – Ronnie Hillman of the Denver Broncos runs the ball during the fourth quarter Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Joel Dreessen of the Denver Broncos catches a 22-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos runs the ball Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

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NFL Week 4: The best photos – A fan cheers on the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders is tackled for a loss by No. 95 Derek Wolfe and No. 52 Wesley Woodyard of the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Sports Authority Field Field at Mile High in Denver.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions, right, drops the ball in the end zone after a tackle by Jamarca Sanford of the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder passes the football as Cliff Avril of the Detroit Lions attempts a diving tackle on Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans is tackled during Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Arian Foster of the Houston Texans leaps over Jurrell Casey, No. 99 of the Tennessee Titans, as he is tackled by Will Witherspoon, No. 92, at Reliant Arena in Houston on Sunday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – NFL officials wave to the fans during the pre-game warmup on Sunday at the Tennessee Titans-Houston Texans game.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Cleveland Browns wide receiver Greg Little fails to make this catch in the end zone during the Browns' game against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, September 27. The Ravens defeated the Browns 23-16. It was the first game back for the regular referees after a three-week lockout.

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Wide receiver Torrey Smith of the Baltimore Ravens catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter against cornerback Tashaun Gipson of the Cleveland Browns Thursday.

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Photos:NFL Week 4: The best photos

NFL Week 4: The best photos – Game officials take the field before the start of the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns game on Thursday, September 27 in Baltimore, Maryland. Look back at the best of Week Three.

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Story highlights

Fans give officials standing ovation before Thursday game at Baltimore

There was no signature gaffe during Thursday's game

The NFL labor deal with referees locks in pay raises, protects pensions for five years

The real referees were greeted with a standing ovation Thursday night as they returned to the field after a new contract was announced less than a day earlier.

It may be the last time fans will voice their opinion on the recent NFL lockout that brought replacement referees to the football field.

Thursday's 23 to 16 win by the Baltimore Ravens over the Cleveland Browns went on without much controversy, a far cry from the gaffe-filled display that punctuated the first three weeks of the professional football season.

Before Thursday's game NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he was sorry the league felt it had to resort to the replacements, few of whom had any previous NFL officiating experience. Many were high school or low-level college officials who hold down myriad other jobs, from schoolteachers to attorneys.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers 14-12 on Monday, September 24, after replacement officials, standing in for locked-out NFL regulars, gave possession of a disputed ball to Seattle receiver Golden Tate. Officials in the end zone gave competing signals: one indicating a touchdown, the other an interception.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – A timer got stuck (or something) during the 2012 London Olympics, allowing German fencer Britta Heidemann to defeat South Korean fencer Shin A-Lam in the epee semifinal. Shin sat on the piste for an hour, crying at times, while officials worked out the question.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – Baseball umpire Bill Joyce admittedly blew a call at first base, robbing the Detroit Tigers' Armando Galarraga of a perfect game vs. the Cleveland Indians in 2010. Joyce wept when he met Galarraga at home plate before the next day's game.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – In a 2009 qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup, French striker Thierry Henry got away with touching the ball with his hand — twice — before teammate William Gallas scored the winning goal against Ireland, knocking the Irish out of the competition.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – A regular NFL referee screwed up the call on an overtime coin toss on Thanksgiving Day 1998, and the Detroit Lions beat the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – Referees failed to call Germany's Torsten Frings for a handball during a 2002 match, and the U.S. was knocked out of the World Cup tournament.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – Argentina's Diego Maradona illegally touched the ball with his hand while scoring a goal against England in soccer's 1986 World Cup tournament. It became known as the "Hand of God" after Maradona credited divine intervention for the dubious goal.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – In 1999, the Dallas Stars' Brett Hull scored in triple overtime with a skate in the crease -- which at the time was illegal -- and the Stars went on to win the Stanley Cup over the Buffalo Sabres.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – New York Yankees second baseman Chuck Knoblauch put a phantom tag on Jose Offerman of the Boston Red Sox during the American League Championship Series in 1999. Offerman was called out, and the Yankees went on to win.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – A 12-year-old baseball fan named Jeffrey Maier reached over the fence to deflect a ball hit by the Yankees' Derek Jeter into the stands for a home run during the 1996 ALCS against Baltimore. Jeter could have been called out for fan interference.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – In college football, on-field officials gave Colorado a fifth down (a team gets only four) to score a touchdown during a crucial game against Missouri in 1990. Colorado won 33-31 and went on to claim part of the national title. Missouri fans pulled down the goalpost after the loss.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – American boxer Roy Jones Jr. dominated his South Korean opponent in the gold-medal match at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, only to see Park Si-Hun handed the decision.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – Umpire Don Denkinger called the Kansas City Royals' Jorge Orta safe at first base despite being beaten by half a step in the ninth inning of a 1985 World Series game against St. Louis. Kansas City went on to win the game and the series.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – In the 1972 Olympics, officials reset the clock three times in the final moments to allow the USSR to prevail in the gold-medal basketball game against the undefeated U.S. team. Before the clock was reset, the U.S. team mistakenly celebrated what they thought was a win.

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Photos:Photos: Blown calls in sports

Blown calls in sports history – Baltimore Orioles catcher Elrod Hendricks tagged sliding Cincinnati runner Bernie Carbo with an empty glove in a 1970 World Series game, but umpire Ken Burkhart — who had his back to the play — called Carbo out. (By the way, Carbo also missed the plate.)

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson throws the winning touchdown pass against the Green Bay Packers in Seattle on Monday night. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 14-12 after a much-questioned call by the referees.

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate, in navy blue, jumps for the ball, surrounded by Green Bay players. Before he made the catch in the end zone, Tate shoved Packers defender Sam Shields in the back, which would typically draw an offensive pass interference penalty.

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – The group falls to the ground in the end zone. Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings appeared to intercept the pass and had both hands wrapped around the ball with the ball pulled into his chest.

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – Referees rush over to make the call.

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – On Twitter, this is being called the "official photo" of the replacement referee debacle. Two officials in the end zone gave contradictory signals: One signaled a touchdown and the other signaled a clock stoppage, indicating a change of possession and an interception.

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – Tate and No. 14 Charly Martin wrestle with Jennings.

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Photos:Photos: The Seahawks-Packers final play

Controversial end to Seahawks-Packers game – The play was reviewed on video but was ruled a touchdown. See the best of NFL Week 3.

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That ended Wednesday night when the NFL stuck a deal with officials.

The eight-year deal, which must be ratified by union members, includes details about officials' pensions and retirement benefits, and adds a pay bump from $149,000 a year in 2011 to $173,000 in 2013. The pay will rise to $205,000 by 2019.

It suspended the lockout that began before the league's preseason, leading to a series of gaffes that climaxed in a furor over a botched call that allowed the Seattle Seahawks to walk away with a victory in Monday night's nationally televised game against Green Bay. The league acknowledged Tuesday that the Packers should have won, but allowed the result of the game to stand.

Goodell declined to criticize the replacements despite weeks of botched calls that raised the ire of fans nationwide.

"Everything they did, every call, was magnified," Goodell said. "They kept the game going. They worked hard. They trained hard. They were incredibly focused and dedicated."

Henry Zaborniak, a fill-in line judge who lives in Ohio, said it was a hard job.

"We worked as hard as we could and we did the best we could," said Zaborniak, who spent 15 years as a Big Ten official,. "None of us felt like we could replace the regular guys. You can't replace that sort of ability en masse."